Spud lock for liquid dispenser



J. SENTZ 3,334,938

SPUD LOCK FOR LIQUID DISPENSER Aug. 8, 1967 Filed Sept. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VENTOR A dam I 6' en Zz ATTORNEYS A. J. SENTZ SPUD LOCK FOR LIQUID DISPENSER Aug. 8.11967 2 Sheets-$heet Filed Sept. 10, 1965 J0 6 //\/VEN7 OR 26 3 Ao'omlSenZz ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 486,381 2 Claims. (Cl. 292-257) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Locking means is provided for quickly clamping the beaded neck of a container in a body member shown as associated with a dispenser having a pressure regulator feeding pressure fluid into the container and an opening through the body permitting discharge of the container contents. A plurality of radially movable clamping members having camming surfaces on their radially outer ends and an embracing ring has coacting camming surfaces which, when the ring is oscillated in one direction, moves the clamping members inwardly against the neck of a container and engages the bead on the end of the neck to press it firmly against a seal located in the receiving body and registering with'the neck of the container. When the ring is oscillated in the opposite direction, other coacting surfaces on the ring and clamping members earn the same to a radially outermost position.

This invention relates to improvements in a spud lock for a liquid dispenser and more particularly to an improved clamping means for clamping the neck of liquidcontaining vessel in a dispenser device.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clamping means for securing the outlet neck of a liquid container to a shroud or the like and including a body into which the neck of the container may be inserted with a plurality of surrounding clamp members mounted in the body for radial movement toward and away from the neck of the container, together with a clamping ring mounted on the body for arcuate oscillation relative to the radially outer ends of the clamp members with coacting cams on the ring and on the clamp members for forcing the members radially inwardly against the neck of the container upon oscillation of the ring in one direction and there being recesses in the ring permitting limited movement of the clamp members radially outwardly upon oscillation of the ring in the other direction.

The present invention also provides other cam means on the ring and on the clamp members for forcing the members radially outward upon oscillation of the opposite direction.

Another feature of the present invention includes cam faces on the radially innermost ends of some or all of the clamp members inclined radially outwardly and toward the open end of the neck of the container in position to coact with a bead on the container neck so as to cam the neck toward a sealing gasket as the clamp members engage the neck to lock it in place.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a shroud adapted to dispense liquid from a container and showing the front face thereof equipped with a faucet or tap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shroud of FIG. 1 showing the rear face thereof equipped with the clamping or locking means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, enlarged, showing the parts of the clamping means shown in assembled position in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views, enlarged, with a retainer ring removed, showing the clamp members respectively in open and closed positions; while FIG. 6 is a central sectional view taken from the position of the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the retainer plate in position and with the neck of a liquid container locked in the clamping means.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, I have shown front and rear view of a shroud 10 adapted to be clamped on the neck of a liquid container when it is desired to dispense the contents of the container utilizing the force of pressurized gap to discharge the contents of the container out of a tap or faucet 11 secured to the front face of the shroud. The rear face of the shroud, shown in FIG. 2, shows in the upper portion of the shroud means for holding a pressurized cartridge of gas and a pressure regulator inan enlarged portion 12 near the upper edge of the shroud. A tubular passageway is provided behind the rib 13 of the shroud which conducts the gas at controlled pressure to a tubular member 14 adapted to enter the neck of a liquid container so as to place gas pressure on the contents of the container. The parts housed in the shroud portion 12 are fully disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 529,737 filed February 24, 1966 and now Patent No. 3,319,829, issued May 16, 1967.

The present invention is directed toward the spud lock or clamping means shown in FIGS. 2 through 6. The clamping means comprises a body 15 which may be rigidly fastened to the shroud 10 but where the latter is made of plastic or the like, it may be integral therewith. The body has a cylindrical portion'16- of less diameter extending rearwardly from the rear face thereof. It also has a plug portion 17 extending rearwardly from the rear face thereof concentric with the body portion 16 and defining a groove 18 between the portions 16 and the body 15 and in communication with the faucet 11.

The body portion 16 is provided with three radially extending recesses 20 although the number may be varied as desired so long as there are sufiicient clamp members to firmly receive and hold the neck of the container.

Each of the clamp members 21 is mounted in its asso- 'ciated radially extending recess 20' for radial movement into and out of the groove 18. The clamp members are a snug sliding fit in their respective recesses 20. A clamping ring 22 has an internal bore 22a which is a snug sliding fit on the body portion 16 for arcuate oscillation relative to the radially outer ends of the clamp members 21. This clamping ring is manipulated by a handle 22b from the open position of the clamp or lock shown in FIG. 4 in a counterclockwise direction to the closed position of the clamping means shown in FIG. 5. On its radially inner side, the clamping ring 22 has recesses for receiving the clamp members equal in number to such members. In FIG. 4, the recess portion 23a receives the arcuate outer end 21a of a clamping member 21 in such a position that the inner end 21b of the clamping member is clear of the groove 18 for the purpose of inserting the neck of a container. In the position of the parts shown in FIG. 5, the clamping ring 22 has been rotated about 30 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4 and during this action the recess portions 23a and 2311 have cammed each associated clamp member 21 radially inwardly to the locked position of FIG. 5 where the clamp members are firmly engaged against the neck of a container as shown in FIG. 6.

Preferably, but not necessarily, positive cam means is provided to withdraw the clamp members 21 radially outwardly upon moving the clamping ring back to the position of FIG. 4 to open the clamping means. This includes a nose 24 on the radially outer end of each clamp member pointing upstream in the direction of clamp opening movement of the clamping ring 22 and extending circumferentially beyond the side the groove 20 extending outwardly. Each nose 24 has a radially inner surface 24a extending backwardly from the tip of the nose and radially inwardly so as to engage against a pointed cam 26 on the ring 22 and positively lift the associated clamp member 21 radially outwardly as the clamp ring move-s into the final position of FIG. 4. Note in the position of the parts in FIG. 5 that the nose 24 lies in such a position that its inclined surface 24a will engage the pointed cam 26 and be moved radially outwardly thereby even though no radial movement of clamp member 21 takes place relative to the position of FIG. 5 during substantially the thirty degree movement counterclockwise of the clamping ring 22. The purpose of this positive release of the clamp members is to overcome a sticky situation. A liquid such as beer gets quite sticky and under such circumstances it is desirable that there be a positive means for forcing the clamp members 21 radially outwardly to the released position of FIG. 4.

When the device of this invention is completely assembled, the retainer plate 27 is secured to the body portion 16 by screws 28 entering the openings 29 in body 16. This plate overlies the clamp members 21 and clamping ring 22 sufficiently to hold them in assembled position as shown in FIG. 2 but permitting the arcuate movement of clamping ring 22 and the radial movement of the clamp members 21.

In FIG. 6, I have shown in sectional view one of the clamping members 21 in the position of FIG. 5 engaging against the neck 30 of a container 31 so as to hold the same firmly in position in the dispensing shroud. This view shows a further improvement which may be incorporated in this invention, namely, the use of an annular sealing ring 32 of rubberlike material in the bottom of groove 18 in a position to abut the end of the container neck 30. An annular bead 33 integral with the neck 30 provides a surface 33a adapted to engage a face 34 on each clamp member inclined radially outwardly and toward the seal 32 in position to urge the head 33 toward the seal as the clamp members 21 engage the container neck 30 in the position shown in FIG. 6. While all of the clamp members are shown with this cam surface 34, it is sufficient if enough of the clamp members have these cam surfaces so as to tightly engage the neck of the container against the seal 32 to prevent leakage of liquid at this point.

The operation of this device should now be apparent.

With the clamping means in the open position of FIG. 0

4, the container 31 is set with its neck 30 upright and the shroud 10 is manipulated so that the neck 30 is embraced in the groove 18. The clamping means is then moved to the closed position of FIG. 5 firmly clamping the neck of the container to the shroud and firmly engaging the outer end of the neck against the seal 32. The liquid in the container is then available through the opening 17b to the faucet 11 and will dispense readily when gas pressure is supplied from a pressurized cartridge through a pressure regulator in the portion 12 of the shroud and through the passageway indicated at 13 to passageway 17a in the plug portion 17 and thus through a tubular member to the interior of the container 31. To release the empty container the clamping means is moved to the open position of FIG. 4 whereupon the nose 24 of each clamp member engages the pointed cam 26 to pull clamp members radially outward.

What is claimed is:

1. Clamping means for securing the outlet neck of a liquid container to a shroud or the like comprising a clamp body having an annular groove adapted to receive and embrace the neck of a container having an annular bead at its outer end, a seal in the bottom of said groove against which the outer end of said container neck may engage, a generally cylindrical plug on said body adapted to fit into the neck, said plug forming the radially inner wall of said groove, a plurality of clamp members mounted in said body outside of said groove for radial movement into and out of said groove, a clamping ring mounted on said body for arcuate oscillation relative to the radially outer ends of said clamp members, coacting cams on said ring and on the radially outer ends of said members for forcing said members radially inwardly to clamping position against the neck of a container upon oscilliation of said ring in one direction, said clamp members in clamping position located to engage said container neck bead and urge it against said seal, there beig recesses in said ring permitting limited movement of said clamp members radially outwardly upon oscillation of said ring in the other direction, and means holding said clamp members and said ring in operative position on said body.

2. Clamping means as defined in claim 1 including second coacting cams on said ring and on said clamp members for forcing said members radially outward upon oscillation of said ring in the other direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,562 6/1906 Tucker. 1,341,177 5/1920 Kaye 21545 1,533,875 4/1925 McCleary 292-37 X 2,587,738 3/1952 K-oster 21545 2,791,343 5/1957 Franck 215-45 X FOREIGN PATENTS 34,895 3/1886 Germany. 496,206 4/ 1930 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. RICHARD E. MOORE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. CLAMPING MEANS FOR SECURING THE OUTLET NECK OF A LIQUID CONTAINER TO A SHROUD OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A CLAMP BODY HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND EMBRACE THE NECK OF A CONTAINER HAVING AN ANNULAR BEAD AT ITS OUTER ENDS, A SEAL IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID GROOVE AGAINST WHICH THE OUTER END OF SAID CONTAINER NECK MAY ENGAGE, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL PLUG ON SAID BODY ADAPTED TO FIT INTO THE NECK, SAID PLUG FORMING THE RADIALLY INNER WALL OF SAID GROOVE, A PLURALITY OF CLAMP MEMBERS MOUNTED IN SAID BODY OUTSIDE OF SAID GROOVE FOR RADIAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SAID GROOVE, A CLAMPING RING MOUNTED ON SAID BODY FOR ARCUATE OSCILLATION RELATIVE TO THE RADIALLY OUTER ENDS OF SAID CLAMP MEMBERS, COACTING CAMS ON SAID RING AND ON THE RADIALLY OUTER ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS FOR FORCING SAID MEMBERS RADIALLY INWARDLY TO CLAMPING POSITION AGAINST THE NECK OF A CONTAINER UPON OSCILLIATION OF SAID RING IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID CLAMP MEMBERS IN CLAMPING POSITION LOCATED TO ENGAGE SAID CONTAINER NECK BEAD AND URGE IT AGAINST SAID SEAL, THERE BEING RECESSED IN SAID RING PERMITTING LIMITED MOVEMENT OF SAID CLAMP MEMBERS RADIALLY OUTWARDLY UPON OSCILLATION OF SAID RING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND MEANS HOLDING SAID CLAMP MEMBERS AND SAID RING IN OPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID BODY. 